Decarbonizing Canada's homes and buildings is the only form of climate action that reduces emissions while also directly protecting Canadians from extreme weather. We develop and advocate for policies that make Canada's homes and buildings—our third-largest source of emissions—healthier, safer, more resilient to extreme weather, and affordable to heat and cool.
Buildings
Retrofits play a role in not only decarbonizing buildings, but adapting them for increasingly extreme weather
Energy efficiency creates more jobs than any other industry
An average of 9.5 jobs are created for every $1 million invested in a whole-building energy efficiency retrofit. (Data sources: Statistics Canada and Efficiency Canada; see Canada’s Renovation Wave (2021))
Key numbers
80%
of the buildings that will exist in 2050 in Canada are already built.
600,000
Canadian homes need to be retrofitted every year to reach 2050 emissions reduction targets.
13%
of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions are from buildings.
Healthy Buildings in a Changing Climate
Our latest report, Healthy Buildings in a Changing Climate, underscores the urgent need to retrofit existing buildings to protect Canadians' health and safety.
Read the reportResearch & Analysis
Why focus on buildings?
A tangible, results-driven solution
Buildings are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, especially in Canada. One of the best ways to lower emissions and increase infrastructure resiliency is through deep retrofits—a holistic energy efficiency upgrade that improves occupant health and makes housing more affordable.
What does a deep retrofit include?
- Low-carbon materials
- New technologies (like heat pumps)
- Smart integration with electricity grids
Reimagining what is possible, one building at a time
The Reframed Initiative shows how deep retrofits provide many beyond-energy benefits like homes that are healthy, safe, resilient, and affordable to heat and cool. Our research signals a shift away from business-as-usual upgrades to deep retrofits as a benefit-rich pathway to decarbonization and adaptation.
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Finding ways to make buildings meet higher standards for energy efficiency is not just possible, but a necessary catalyst for positive change. As we transform the building sector, we unlock a multitude of beyond-energy benefits for communities across Canada.
Meet Betsy Agar
Program Director, Buildings
Contact our Buildings team
Program Director
Betsy Agar
c: 604-245-1387
e: betsya@pembina.org
Media Contact
Sarah Snowdon (Eastern Time)
c: 416-838-3423
e: sarahs@pembina.org
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